Create and Maintain External Links in Excel

Excel allows you to link information from another workbook to your existing workbook. You need to use a fomula to do this task.

 

The syntax for the formula is [workbook_name] [worksheet_name] !reference.

"Workbook_name" refers to the name of the workbook that provides the data. This workbook is called the source workbook. "Worksheet_name" refers to the name of the worksheet in the source workbook. "Reference" is the name of the cell or range that holds the information we want to use. "!" is the divider between theworksheet reference and the cell reference. The workbook that contains the formula is the dependent workbook.

 

Sometimes it is neccessary to rename the source workbook which is already linked to another workbook. Excel will automatically update the link if you keep the source and dependent workbooks open while changing the name of the source workbook. If you don't have the dependent workbook open, you can still redirect the links by using the Edit, Links command.

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How To Create an External link:

1. Open the workbook/worksheet you want to create the formula in.
2. Click on the cell where you want the formula to appear.
3. Type = to start the formula.
4. Activate the source workbook.
5. Activate the correct worksheet.
6. Select the cell that holds in the information you want to use from this worksheet.
7. Press Enter.
   • The result should appear in the cell you selected in step 2 above.

How To Maintain workbook links:

1. From the Edit menu, choose Links to open the Links dialog box.
2. From the Source file list, select the source workbook whose links you want to redirect.
3. Click the Change Source button.
4. Select the name of the workbook to which you want to redirect the link.
5. Click OK to return to the Links dialog box.
6. Click OK to close the Links dialog box.